5 things you need to know about the Titans vs. Bills in Week 7
Can anyone remember the last time the Tennessee Titans won back-to-back games? Brian Callahan’s club had that opportunity last week at home against the Colts and couldn’t get the job done. The team owned a 17-10 lead in the fourth quarter only to watch Indianapolis score the final 10 points of the game. By the way, the answer to the question is Week 10 and 11 in 2022. The Titans are now a miserable 7-22 in their last 29 outings.
Callahan’s team makes its way north to Orchard Park this Sunday to take on a potent Buffalo Bills’ team that has its flaws, but owns a 4-2 mark and leads the AFC East.
All-Time Series Record
The rivalry dates back to the start of the AFL in 1960. The Oilers/Titans own a 30-20 overall edge, which includes the fact that Buffalo owns a 2-1 edge in the teams’ three postseason encounters.
As for those playoff meetings, two obviously stand out and both involved stirring comebacks of different varieties. The Bills rallied from a 35-3 third-quarter deficit for a 41-38 overtime win over the Oilers in the 1992 wild card round. Seven years later, it was the “Music City Miracle” as Jeff Fisher’s Super Bowl-bound Titans escaped with a 22-16 victory in Nashville.
As for more modern times, these clubs are meeting for the sixth time in seven years dating back to 2018. Buffalo rolled Tennessee, 41-7, on a Monday night in 2022 in the clubs’ latest encounter.
Quarterbacks: Tale of the Tape
This year’s five-game performance by the second-year signal-caller has been quite indicative of Will Levis’ brief career. This season, he’s thrown for five scores, been picked off seven times, and lost three fumbles. He’s accounted for all 10 of Tennessee’s turnovers. Levis has now played and started in 14 games. He’s committed at least one turnover in 12 of those outings, and has given up the ball a combined 18 times.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen knows something about giving up the football, but six games into 2024 and the two-time Pro Bowler has done a great job of protecting the pigskin. Yes, he’s fumbled four times and lost two of those bobbles. However, he’s thrown for 1,160 yards and 10 scores without an interception. Allen is the team’s second-leading rusher with 178 yards, and he’s reached the end zone three times.
Defensive Analysis
The Titans limited the Colts to 20 points last Sunday, but gave up a long touchdown drive on the game’s first possession (70 yards), and then another long TD march late in the fourth quarter (75 yards) that wound up in the end zone when Tennessee was protecting a 17-10 lead. The Titans defense did not have a sack for the first time this season. That simply can’t be the case this week for Dennard Wilson’s defense.
This is a very vulnerable Buffalo defense. This offseason, general manager Brandon Beane had a lot of salary cap issues to deal with and the team parted ways with numerous veterans and there have been some growing pains. Titans running back Tony Pollard could have some success against a team that is allowing 140.2 yards per game on the ground. On the plus side, the Bills have forced 10 turnovers.
Keys to the Game
Titans: Wilson will have to find a way to prevent Allen from escaping the pocket on a regular basis. He obviously remains a big part of Buffalo’s ground game, and when a play breaks down, he has proven to be very accurate when on the move. Tennessee has surrendered eight offensive touchdowns in five games (three rushing, five passing). Callahan’s best bet may be an offensive game-plan designed to keep Allen off the field.
Bills: The AFC East leaders have lived off their offense for the most part in 2024, so McDermott’s defense must step up when it comes to not being exploited by Tennessee’s running attack. Don’t be surprised if the Bills come out guns blazing via the passing game, looking to put points on the board early, forcing the Titans into catch-up mode. Buffalo has scored a combined 81 points in two home games this season.
Players to Watch
Buffalo’s wide receiving corps was bolstered by the recent addition of 10-year pro Amari Cooper earlier this week. Allen has done a pretty good job of spreading the ball around this season, especially when it comes to reaching the end zone. Seven different players have caught at least one touchdown pass this season. Now add a five-time Pro Bowler to the mix. His 24 receptions in six games would lead the Bills.
The Titans gave up big money this offseason to obtain L’Jarius Sneed via trade from the Chiefs. General manager Ran Carthon also added Chidobe Awuzie (currently on IR) in free agency. Early on, rookie Jarvis Brownlee Jr. has been the team’s best coverage cornerback via Pro Football Focus, and ranks sixth in the NFL via PFF in this category. The 2024 fifth-round draft pick could wind up shadowing the veteran Cooper.